Seasonal Relapses in Affective Disorder in the Tropics: A Prospective Follow-Up of 12 Patients

Abstract

Seasonal relapses of affective disorder are known. We report 12 patients who had season-linked relapses during a prospective follow-up period of 4 years. There were both winter and summer relapses of mania and depression. The centre is in the tropical zone, with lesser variation of sunshine and temperature than in more extreme latitudes. This may inference the pattern of relapse in affective disorder. Differences in relapses between tropical and temperate zones need to be investigated.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Some Epidemiological Findings from a Tropical Climate

“…Gupta [25] reported one case of seasonal summer depression in northern India, (latitude: 27"39' to 32"50' north). Jain and colleagues [26] reported a 12-month follow-up of seasonal relapses in affective disorder in the tropics ( 12"50' north) and found two cases who experienced summer depressions and winter manias. Even fewer studies have documented treatment for summer depression.…”